Finally it’s even fairly easy to make your voice known. Here are some ways to do it from Doug Schenkelberg, who does advocacy and outreach for Greater Chicago Food Depository:

sample alert:

This week, the House of Representatives will vote on a Farm Bill proposal that will cut $40 billion from SNAP. The cut would translate into about 1.5 billion lost meals for hungry families every year for the next 10 years. This is on top of the looming benefit reductions that will impact all SNAP participants starting in November 2013.

The combined cuts would increase hunger in America and is not the way to balance our nation’s budget.

We must send a strong message to Congress. Join the National Call in Day on Tuesday, September 17 and help us flood the phone lines by urging your Representative to oppose the bill and mobilizing your local supporters to do the same!

Calling Congress is easy. Here’s how:

Call the advocacy hotline at 800-826-3688 (toll free number provided by Bread for the World)

Once you are connected to your Representative, state that you are a constituent and give your name and the town you are calling from. Be sure to give the name of the food bank or local agency you are affiliated with.

Let them know you are calling about the Farm Bill and deliver this important message:

As your constituent I am asking you to vote against the House Farm Bill proposal to cut $40 billion from SNAP. This bill will be devastating to struggling Americans, and charity cannot fill the gap. I understand the need to reduce the deficit, but increasing hunger is not the way to do it. Please oppose this bill.